Designed protein-protein association

The analysis of natural contact interfaces between protein subunits and between proteins has disclosed some general rules governing their association. We have applied these rules to produce a number of novel assemblies, demonstrating that a given protein can be engineered to form contacts at various points of its surface. Symmetry plays an important role because it defines the multiplicity of a designed contact and therefore the number of required mutations. Some of the proteins needed only a single side-chain alteration in order to associate to a higher-order complex. The mobility of the buried side chains has to be taken into account. Four assemblies have been structurally elucidated. Comparisons between the designed contacts and the results will provide useful guidelines for the development of future architectures.     

The ecoresponsive genome of Daphnia pulex

We describe the draft genome of the microcrustacean Daphnia pulex, which is only 200 megabases and contains at least 30,907 genes. The high gene count is a consequence of an elevated rate of gene duplication resulting in tandem gene clusters. More than a third of Daphnia's genes have no detectable homologs in any other available proteome, and the most amplified gene families are specific to the Daphnia lineage. The coexpansion of gene families interacting within metabolic pathways suggests that the maintenance of duplicated genes is not random, and the analysis of gene expression under different environmental conditions reveals that numerous paralogs acquire divergent expression patterns soon after duplication. Daphnia-specific genes, including many additional loci within sequenced regions that are otherwise devoid of annotations, are the most responsive genes to ecological challenges.     

Organic-geochemical Differentiation of Petroleum-type Pollutants and Study of Their Fate in Danube Alluvial Sediments and Corresponding Water (Pančevo Oil Refinery, Serbia)

A review is given in this paper of the up-to-date results observed in differentiation and transformation studies on petroleum-type pollutants in underground and surface waters. Water and particulate matter derived from the locality of Pan?evo Petroleum Refinery, Serbia (River Danube alluvial formations). It was shown that distributions of n-alkanes, steranes and triterpanes, and δ¹³C_PDB values of n-alkanes may successfully be used for qualitatively differentiating the petroleum-type pollutants from native organic matter in recent sedimentary formations. In underground waters, a petroleum-type pollutant is exposed to microbiological degradation which is manifested through relatively fast degradation of n-alkanes. Following an almost complete degradation of crude oil n-alkanes in underground water, the biosynthesis of novel, even carbon-number C₁₆–C₃₀ n-alkanes may be observed. It is shown that the n-alkane distribution observed in a petroleum-type pollutant may depend on the intensity of its previous interaction with water. The fate of petroleum-type pollutants in environmental waters may be predicted through laboratory simulative microbiological degradation experiments by using microorganism consortiums similar to those observed under relevant natural conditions, as well as on corresponding nutrient base.     

An integrative approach of organic matter stabilization in temperate soils: Linking chemistry,physics, and biology

With this topical issue, we present the work of the Priority Program 1090 of the German Research Foundation (“Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG”): “Soils as a source and sink for CO₂ – mechanisms and regulation of organic matter stabilisation in soils”. This introduction gives an overview on the sites investigated and the major research approaches, including a glossary of major terms used in the field of soil organic matter research. We point out the advantages of integration of data from a broad field of different soil‐science disciplines and the progress achieved by application and combination of new analytical methods describing the quality and turnover of soil organic matter.     

Epidemiological investigations of bovine Chorioptes mange in Germany

Chorioptic mange in cattle has long been recognised as a common external parasitosis in livestock. In order to evaluate the economic importance of Chorioptes bovis-mange, the seasonal prevalence in several types of husbandry in the states of Germany, location of clinical skin symptoms, procedure of diagnosis, influence on milk or meat production, and treatment especially in dairy farming, 1190 German large animal practicioners have been asked by questionnaires from which 367 responded. This paper gives an update on important epidemiological investigations on bovine chorioptic mange due to this inquiry. Since more than one third of the questioned veterinarians see tail mange often, it is of high importance for farm cattle. Chorioptes mange mainly occurs in dairy cattle stocks, and has especially negative effects on milk production and meat productivity. For treatment of this external parasitosis mainly macrocyclic lactons and pyrethroids are used.     

Evidence for the involvement of Aphanomyces cochlioides and Pythium spp. in ‘girth scab’ disease of sugar beet in Bavaria

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The term ‘girth scab’ describes a chronic disease of sugar beet roots (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) for which the causes still remain unclear....     

Efficacy of major anthelmintics against horse cyathostomins in France

This paper reports a survey conducted in France during 2011 to evaluate the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics against horse cyathostomins. A total of 40 farms and 1089 horses were screened for the presence of cyathostomins. All farms but one were positive, with an overall animal infection rate of 53.7%, ranging from 9% to 83% on individual farms. On 445 horses from 30 of these farms, a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed to evaluate the efficacy of oral formulations of fenbendazole (FBZ), pyrantel embonate (PYR), ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MOX). Calculation of the mean FECR and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) around the mean was performed using bootstrap analysis. Resistance to FBZ was found on 17 of 18 farms investigated, with a mean reduction of 57% (95% CI: 38.5-71.2%). Suspected resistance for PYR was found on 6 of 30 farms, and confirmed on another 3 of 30 farms, with a mean reduction for PYR of 94.7% (95% CI: 88.9-98.5%). Reduced efficacy simultaneously of FBZ and PYR was found in 7 farms. Reduced efficacy of IVM was found in one animal on one farm and of MOX in one animal on another farm, and was combined with resistance against FBZ and/or PYR. These results indicate that single and multiple drug resistance and reduced efficacy in equine cyathostomins is present in France. Macrocylic lactones proved to be highly effective compounds against cyathostomins, with reduced efficacy for IVM and MOX in two farms only. These results extend present knowledge on the occurrence of drug resistant cyathostomins in Europe, and illustrate the necessity to use anthelmintics in appropriate worm control programmes.